Dorothy Swang Gramer

January 20, 2018

Dorothy Swang Gramer, 89, of Granite Falls died Saturday, January 20, 2018 at the Granite Falls Care Center. Services will be held Wednesday, January 24 at 11:30, with visitation beginning at 10:00. Burial will take place at a later date at Bergen Lutheran Church cemetery. Dorothy was born April 5, 1928 in Canby, the daughter of Bert and Mathilda (Natvig) Nelson. She attended elementary school in Hazel Run and high school in Clarkfield. On March 28, 1948 Dorothy married her high school sweetheart, Odell Swang. They were blessed with four children: Diane, Jan, Cindy and Mike. Odell died in 1967. In 1971 Dorothy married Ralph “Bowie” Gramer and moved to Crookston. She returned to Granite after Bowie’s death in 1983. Dorothy worked as a receptionist at the Granite Medical Center, real estate offices in Granite and Crookston, and also at Anderson Fabric, making draperies where she called herself “the happy hooker.” She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Alter Guild, WELCA, Women’s Guild and belonged to Golden Grands and card clubs. She was meticulous in her stitching: counted cross stitch, quilting and hardanger. Her lefse making skills were unsurpassed. She loved going on bus tours, dancing, playing cards (especially when she won), watching her grandchildren play football, baseball, soccer, and hockey and enjoyed spending summer vacations at the lake with her family. She is survived by her four children: Diane Ladner of Granite Falls, Jan Botsford of Marshall, Cindy Jensen of Burnsville, and Mike (Tammy) Swang of East Grand Forks, her 10 grandchildren: Tom (Hilda) Ladner of Tucson, Arizona, Tony (Stephanie) Ladner of Denver, Colorado, Ben (Janelle) Meier of Shakopee, Michael (Cat) Meier of Marshall, Trace Botsford of Balaton, Tim (Katie) Jensen of Bloomington, Nick (special friend Amanda Gliva) Jensen of Eagan, Ryan (Jenny) Swang, Justin (Ali) Swang, both of East Grand Forks, Kelsey Swang of Fargo and 10 great- grandchildren: Julia and Alejandro Ladner, Cora and Evan Meier, Beau and Lana Meier, Kalli Jo Botsford, Louis Jensen, and Ellery and Corban Swang. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews and three sisters-in-law: Gerry Velde, Dorothy McCoy and Delores Luschen. She was preceded in death by her two husbands, an infant brother and two sisters: Madlyn Zak and Evelyn Christensen.